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It was in the 53rd minute of the match that the controversy unfolded. Paul Pogba set Griezmann through on goal and as he approached the box Risdon brought him down.

Play continued as normal for around 25 seconds before the ball went out of play and Cunha blew his whistle before running over to his pitch side monitor to begin the review.

The officials inside the tournament's VAR headquarters in Moscow and Cunha then began trawling through replays from two camera angles. After thoroughly watching the footage for around 37 seconds, the referee overturned his decision.

Australia were left fuming with the ruling but there was nothing they could do as France went ahead and Risdon was left with a yellow card.

Antoine Griezmann was brought down just inside the box by Australian defender Josh Risdon

The LED screens within the stadium highlighted to fans that VAR was reviewing the decision

Griezmann then stepped up to take the penalty and fired France ahead on 58 minutes

On the BBC's coverage of the game pundits were split over the decision. Former Manchester United defender and current England women's manager Phil Neville thought the officials made the wrong call.

'I don't like it. Got to be honest, I haven't liked it from day one. I don't think it's a penalty, Risdon got a touch on the ball,' he said.

'They've seen it again and it's not clear and obvious so it shouldn't have been given.

'Those people that are watching it in Moscow have got the decision wrong, we brought VAR in to get the decision right and they haven't.

'Whether we agree with it or not it has to be clear and obvious. We've got three different opinions here so it's not a clear and obvious.'

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and ex-Arsenal defender Alex Scott were of the opposite opinion and felt referees made the correct decision.

'First I say no but now I think yes,' said Drogba. 'Griezmann has to stop his run because the defender touches him. You can't be in between and say "it's not clear so we don't give it".

Scott added: 'At first me and Didier (Drogba) thought it was great tackle but it took VAR and watching so many replays to show us that it was a foul.'

Australia captain Mile Jedinak was unsure on the decision but remained positive afterwards

Australia captain Mile Jedinak bemoaned the decision but remained upbeat in his post-match interview.

'Disappointed. We didn't have that luck. That first decision I don't know, the ball seemed to keep going and he didn't get a shout. That's football, we understand that and must keep going.

'We knew we had to be right at it and straight into the second half we knew they would come at us. We got back into the game and felt good and then they get that goal and we have a go at the end but it wasn't to be today.

'I've already told them if we maintain that form and discipline throughout then let's see where it gets us.'

Moments after the first penalty incident, Cunha consulted the screen once again to double check Samuel Umtiti had handled a cross into the box.

The technology confirmed his decision and Crystal Palace's Jedinak stepped up to fire Australia level in Kazan.

This year's edition of the tournament in Russia is the first time video technology is available to match officials.

The VAR and his assistants have a number of television cameras at their Moscow base throughout the tournament - some 37 during the knockout stages.

What is VAR?

The Video Assistant Referee is a highly-trained match official who is watching the game away from the pitch, safely shut away in a room casting an eagle eye over every piece of play.

When trialed by the Bundesliga, VARs were based externally in Cologne, as opposed to inside the match-day stadium. They communicate with the referee on the field of play via a two-way radio.

The tech first reared its head on British shores when England faced Germany in a friendly at Wembley, following successful tests in Germany, Italy and the United States.

How does a VAR decision get made?

The referee must consult VAR — only then does the process of analysis of an incident begin. The VAR cannot simply review anything it wants during the match.

The referee draws the outline of a TV screen in the air so everybody knows what's going on and that VAR is set to be used.

They then wait to be told what to do, which sometimes includes going to review a decision themselves on an off-pitch monitor.

The general reception to the ground-breaking enhancement to the game was initially met with much scepticism, the likes of legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stating the tech is 'making the game ugly.'